What would I do?

“I just finished training in Jepara and Pati with Sidik. It went well. Praise the Lord. We met with Dukri to prepare training in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan. Dukri shared that his team member, Suparno was killed by terrorists in Jepara recently. Dukri was asked to identify the body by the police. Pray for Suparno's wife and kids. The police got Suparno's lap top and the terrorists got his cell phone. This is why our ministries in Pantura on high alert! Thanks for praying our ministry.”

Dodi Sasongko – East/West Ministries

Just received this from one of our missionaries our church class supports.
Places I have never heard of. People with strange names -  brothers and sisters in my Eternal family. 

Words

 killed . . . terrorists . . . high alert . . . body

all foreign to me yet these dear ones are intimately acquainted with them! NOW!

Pray! Indonesia and so many other countries are under the blanket of Islam. Loving Jesus, as we are free to do in this country means death to these dear ones! 

Think! What would I do  . . .

And then there is an example closer to home . . .Dan Snaddon, my precious Dad - a prisoner of war for over three years, constantly in jeopardy while sharing the Good News of Christ in the prison camp; persecution, beatings – answered prayer and God’s incredible protection!

What would I do?

In thinking of the last few sermons, living in the last days before our Savior comes to take us Home . . .

WHAT WILL I DO?

John 15:20
Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (NIV)

 

Dan Snaddon - May 26, 1915- May 16,2009

take up the torch!

This past weekend I was reminded of the incredible and terrible sacrifice of so many to allow you and me to walk, talk and worship in freedom.

We are asked to take up the torch!

Veterans and active service men and women were asked to stand in church on Sunday to be honored and thanked for their part in our freedom.I proudly watched my husband stand straight and tall as an veteran of Vietnam, serving in the American Army as Captain.  I thought back on the many experiences shared by Daddy and Mom. Details of courage, compassion and self-sacrifice during their time enlisted in the British army and Dad's years of imprisonment under the Japanese on Singapore.

We are asked to take up the torch!

Those of us not involved can't enter in to the horrific, the sad and frightening times our dear ones experienced. We can't fully understand what our brave young men and women are experiencing now as wars continue and they bravely stand against the enemy. We do know of the waiting, the longing to see them again and the praying for safety and courage.

We are asked to take up the torch!

Jesus asks us to stand faithful and unafraid behind Him as the Battle of the Ages thunders around us. Our armor on,  our eyes focused on our Leader who has already won the war, His torch lifted high! He has finished the fight and won our eternal freedom. He has suffered untold agonies and emerged whole and strong - the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are assured glorious victory and total defeat of the enemy because of our unfailing, completely trustworthy Heavenly Commander!

We are asked to take up the torch!

I have a confession . . .

I have a confession to make.

I've been avoiding my prayer time . . . not the SOS prayers that so frequently pop up quickly Heavenward with the many daily worries and burdens. They are automatic and truly heartfelt. What would we do without that lifeline?

No, I am speaking about the "down on my knees" praying for my loved ones and friends kind of prayers. I find myself repeating requests, saying the same things over and over, boring myself (and I am sure the Lord) with the same old stuff.

Then the dreaded LIST!

It keeps getting longer and longer. Details I forget scrawled hurriedly in the margins. Overwhelming and, yes, tedious. I am so sorry, Lord! So what is my solution? Just don't do it. Ignore the LIST. The duties and responsibilities have won. Lord, any suggestions?

A surprise phone call changed my whole perspective.

My precious Auntie, during our conversation, said something like this. "Sometimes I just don't know what to pray for when I look at my list. But the Lord knows so I just lift up the name of that person or thing to Him."

WOW, oh, WOW!
Freedom from the pressing guilt! Ha, Satan, the Lord answered and you have to run!

So I am now lifting up the LIST of names and circumstances to HIM! Praying as the needs come to mind and leaving it all in my God's capable hands! Again, it is not about me but all about HIM!!!

Thank you, dear Auntie!!!!

Burned Toast or Petunias?

Yesterday, I wanted a really crisp English Muffin with my egg. I hit the handle of the toaster a second time and went about my business. A few seconds later the smoke/heat detector blared it’s anger and I was frantically grabbing for something to fan the silly thing to stop it’s noise!

Good news – I had a crispy, crunchy, scrumptious English Muffin (what’s some black stuff among friends!)

Bad news – the whole house smelled like burned toast for hours! Not pleasant!

We have three baskets full of beautiful petunias by our front door. Massive collections of pink and purple blooms that sit there day after day in the sun, cold or hot, wind and rain. Regardless of the weather, in the early morning or evening we walk into the most wondrous fragrance – causing us to stop, inhale deeply and smile!

After the fire?

After the problems?

After the unexpected, the upset plans, the disappointments?

After all our circumstances, is our fragrance

Burned Toast

or

Beautiful Petunias?

Take time away to “meditate” on God’s majesty

Psalm 145:1-7

I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.

 Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.

 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.

 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.

 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

Take time today, away from the “busy-ness” and noise of this world we live in to sit at the feet of Jesus and medicate on the “glorious splendor of our God’s majesty and His wondrous works”.

Let’s fill the air with our praise to our God and King!!!!

 

Yesterday, Tomorrow and the NOW!

Lord,

Time flies! May already?

How thankful I am that You are in total and complete control. 

Surely each day – each dawn – as I open my eyes to another 18 or so hours is a precious gift from You! A brand new opportunity to serve You. A new adventure to see Your hand in my life – a minute by minute direction from Your loving hand – notes played on a heavenly score sheet in harmony with Your Sovereign will.

You give me the NOW, the present. You inhabit the present and wait for me here.

You promise me the present. Yesterday is forever gone! Release me from its hold – the regrets, the would haves and should haves. Tomorrow is a vapor I can’t grasp. Worrying, fretting, wishing only robs me of precious energy and time provided for today. The NOW – this hour is mine to live in Your Presence – sense Your love – walk in Your prepared path for me of peace.

This Now is not about me but all about You!

Each heartbeat, each breath – make me fully aware You are the giver of both!
In Your Sovereignty, I choose:

To live joyfully

Pray continually

Give thanks each moment of the day, no matter what!

It is going to get worse!

Sitting in church several Sundays ago I heard Chuck Swindol quote 2 Timothy 3:1

 “In the last days perilous times shall come” 

He went on to say:


"Interesting word that Paul uses, translated “perilous” in the King James Version. “Troublesome” is the paraphrase that some will use. It is also like our English term savage. “In the last days, savage times will come.”

Then the statement that rocked me!

"Things aren't going to get better! 

Times will get worse and we are in those savage times!"

End times, last days . . . it is something we think about . . . wonder about . . . shake our head and sigh about . . .

So how do I handle "worse not better?"

God's Word! 

If I listen to "feelings" (which are all over the map), embrace the custom of the day (which changes with each generation), or buy into popular opinion (based on "feelings" and world's view of right and wrong which keeps changing) I have no solid foundation. There is no true standard.

Romans 12 - Paul not just asks, but pleads with the readers, because of God's mercy, to offer our bodies as living sacrifices . . .to not copy or be squeezed into the world's mold but allow our minds to be renewed by God himself!

2 Corinthians 10 - We live on a battle ground in the middle of a war! Our minds are the prize!

How I react is all "in the mind".  How I face "these savage times" is based on my thinking. If I am to be victorious, encouraged and a strong warrior in these increasingly difficult times, God's love letter to me must be written on my heart and in my mind!

"Jesus Calling" - beautiful!

". . . your response . . .will take you either up or down. (to difficult situations) You can lash out at the difficulty, resenting it and feeling sorry for your self . . . (leading) to self pity. Alternatively . . . you can climb up and see your life from My perspective . . . the obstacle that frustrated you is only a light and momentary trouble"

Worse times now and ahead - warriors in the middle of battle - Let me climb  up the ladder and see things from God's perspective and let Him win the battle of my mind!

God's perspective: